DLA Piper helps African farmers set up carbon-trading deals

DLA Piper helps African farmers set up carbon-trading deals” class=”inline_image inline_image_left” src=”/pictures/web/images/7371_11_probono.gif” />DLA Piper’s international pro bono affiliate New Perimeter has begun work on a project helping subsistence farmers in Africa to sell carbon credits created by tree-planting projects.

Working with the International Small Group & Tree Planting Programme (TIST), the firm is advising small groups of farmers in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda on the legal issues inherent to launching and operating ‘carbon-trading’ schemes.

Carbon trading is an initiative set up to tackle global warming, under which high carbon-producing organisations are obliged to buy ‘carbon credits’ from carbon-reducing initiatives, or to buy surplus carbon credits from carbon-efficient businesses.

DLA Piper has advised the farmers on legal issues relating to their involvement in the scheme, including ownership and tenure, contracts, the sale of the credits, and the operation and regulation of credits sold on international markets.

DLA Piper pro bono partner and a director of New Perimeter Sheldon Krantz said: “This project responds to key environmental and economic issues facing farmers throughout Africa. Providing on-the-ground resources and legal counsel is the first step in bridging these issues.”

By assisting the TIST in managing the afforestation scheme, in which carbon credits are generated by planting trees in new areas, and the reforestation scheme, in which credits are generated by planting trees in areas that were once covered by forests, DLA Piper will also assist the East African farmers in tackling drought and famine.

In November last year Kenya hosted the UN Climate Change Conference in Nairobi. The conference is the first step in developing a policy to last beyond the expiry of the Kyoto Protocol on climate change in 2012.

DLA Piper hosted former US Vice-President Al Gore at a climate change seminar in its Sheffield office last week (7 February). The firm has also launched a firmwide initiative to reduce carbon emissions.

I would like to know more about the ways one can help to plant more trees to off set the effects of global warming and the laws regarding receiving credit for these projects. Is it best to seek a company directly to receive help or best to seek an organization.

I would like and have started planting seedling for 100,000 trees in the Trans Zoia region in Kenya. The process is going on well but I have fallen short of funds. Subsequently, i am inclined but not totally convinced that commercial crops will solve my need to get profits. like many other people, can i get help in selling the carbon credits from the trees currently in small plantations (around 10,000) fully mature and grown up? Pls help me save the trees!!!

The Congolese Agency for Forest Development is looking partners to develop a tree planting project in surrounding ereas in Kinshasa the capital city of DR Congo.

The project plan to employ unemployed people in urban and prairie urban city to reforest. The project will generate a carbon credit which can be used to finance and create jobs for unemployed people in Kinshasa where more than 80% of people are unemployed.

We have hear that you have a valuable experience on carbon credit trading which can be benefit in DR Congo.

We do not have much experience on carbon credit trading. Could do help us.